vital

I asked the dealer to screw on the front plate for me on my F sport front grill but I think it looks ugly now. Thinking of taking it off but would this give me any legal issues driving in California / Bay Area?

MasonGrey

iTrader: (2)

Yes. You're required to have a front plate by law so the officer can write you a fix-it ticket. The other issue is that there are now holes in your front bumper if you were to take the plate off.

nathantse

I live in the Bay Area, and I don't run a front plate. I just keep the front plate in my car as well as the bracket mount. I never got around to have holes drilled in the bumper tho..

Knock on wood I don't get pulled over. But, honestly, if you don't drive like a crazy person, or make yourself "known" to police, Chances they won't care.

My workplace is at the same block as a CHP office. Always park my car on that block. lol

E46CT

California Vehicle Code
SECTION 5200-5206

5200. (a) When two license plates are issued by the department for
use upon a vehicle, they shall be attached to the vehicle for which
they were issued, one in the front and the other in the rear.

I haven't been bothered for a front plate in 10 years knock on wood in California with a tastefully modified, clean, no tint, no r1cer wheels, no stance, fart exhaust etc.

I've learned when you have r1cey mods or doing donuts and racing around, dark tint etc, you will get popped for no front plate. It annoys cops, gets their attention, and they tack it on the ticket.

Of course your results may vary and you just may get a cop that doesn't like you for whatever reason. But rare in my opinion.

chyeea03

I ran without plates for a year no problem. Parked on the street in SF and a meter maid spotted my car (in a residential area!!!) and ticketed me for no front plates. I would say if you're just driving and abiding all laws, they USUALLY won't pull you over just for no front plates. Even if you get hit for it, it's just a fix-it ticket. There's quite a lot of cars driving around in the south bay without plates so you'd have to be lucky or have bad karma to get pulled over for that down there.

Lexmeup

I'm also in the bay area, drove around for 5 months now without a front plate though i have it in the trunk. I try not to park at meters to reduce the possibility of getting ticketed.

dnasians

iTrader: (4)

grimmspeed tow hook

woowoo

i used to do this to my rsx back then and I'll have people run into my plate and bend it lol
but your car just looks so sick !! I might have to invest In one of these!

specONE

iTrader: (3)

here's my take at it.
less than 5 seconds its off the car when i need it off

no holes visably drilled.
magnets and guide rod only holding it into place on bumper










Here's a video of it in action

link13

I am in California. I didn't run a front plate with my 1994 GS300 with a Veilside kit. I didn't run one before I had the car painted and had the kit put on. I did not run a front plate on my IS250 F Sport and never had a problem. I do not have a front plate on my IS 350 F Sport. I am a 45 year old white man who wears glasses, though. They are probably not pinching me for a plate, which is just a reason that the police can use to stop you.

Rebirthing

I've had my IS for 2+ years without a front plate, and never ran into any issue with the police.
There are tons of other cars (Tesla, Maserati, Porsche, Audi, BMW, etc) that don't have front plates in my area.

nathantse

+1, I see tons on the freeway with no plates. Sometimes I like to play a game and count how many I see on my way to work. loool

CLUM

that magnet DIY is a pretty cool idea

Mesh704

3M double side tape

budman1

Front plates are a requirement here in IL. So far, I've been lucky and not been ticketed for not running a front plate. Just could not let the dealer drill through the front grill!

I like the DIY magnet and grimspeed options.